DIY: Bags

Recently I have been making bags for some family and friends. They are just canvas bags and really good to keep in your handbag in case you need a bag for something.

These bags were for my Nanna, Auntie and a friend's birthday present.

For these I used some wide patterned fabric ribbon for the handles and I also added beads to the appliquéd butterfly design.

This bag is one I made for myself as I bought the fabric from a market a few weeks ago and thought it would make a great bag, I love the print!

To make one of these bags you will need:

Calico or some kind of cotton fabric (can be plain or patterned)

Small pieces of fabric for the appliquéd design (if you want to do one or you could just do a plain one)

Bondaweb (if you don't know its an adhesive that is ironed to the back of appliquéd designs to keep them in place while sewing)
Thread
Sewing machine
Scissors
Chalk or a pen to mark fabric when measuring
Pinking Shears (to stop raw seams from fraying)

Measurements of bag

2 Bag pieces - can be any size depending how big you want your bag but I did mine 38cm x 38cm and then added 1cm seam allowance al the way around

2 handles - from 60 - 70 cm x 8cm depending how long you want it and make sure to add about 2cm seam allowance of each end (can either be fabric pieces or wide ribbon)

2 pieces of fabric that leave a neat finish on the inside where the handles are these should be the width of the bag x 8cm

Instructions

1. Cut all pieces out. If doing appliqué iron bondaweb on the back of design.

2. Iron design onto bag pieces and sew design using either straight or zig zag stitch.

3. Add any extras to the design such as beads.

4. Sew the two bag pieces together along three side with 1cm seam allowance and then neaten seam with pinking shears.

5. Turn the bag right way out and then start on the handles. If using fabric iron in 1cm from each side of the strip and then iron in half. After that sew down to create the handle.

6. To attach handles sandwich them between the top of the bag and the other small pieces of fabric. Sew around the top of the bag with all the layers.

7. Make sure to do it so that the handles are the right way when you have sewn around the handles stick out of the top and the small pieces of fabric fold inside to create a neat edge and strengthen the top.

8. Finally sew around the top of the bag again to keep the inside piece of fabric flat down inside the bag. You can do this with a decorative stitch if you wanted.

Hope you liked this kind of post and hope my instructions make sense if not please comment and I will try and explain if you don't understand what I have wrote

My Make Up Brush Collection

Today's post is just a short one about my make up brush collection. I don't really own that many and would love to try out some different ones but here is what I currently own...

All of the brushes I own so far are al Real Techniques and I have come to realise these are the best make up brushes you could own as I am sure many make up addicts would agree! I have tried others in the past and which were all rough and scratchy so now I own all Real Techniques. They are all really soft and fluffy and don't drop hairs like most of the other brushes I have tried before. They blend make up really well and give a flawless finish. The ones I have are:

The Blush Brush

The Expert Face Brush

(Above are sold separately)

Deluxe Crease Brush

Base Shadow Brush

Accent Brush

Pixel Point Eye liner Brush

Brow Brush

(Above are sold in a set that comes with case which is pictured above)

They can be bought from Boots or Amazon

with Amazon been a lot cheaper especially for the sets.

Which brand of brushes do you use? I would love to know 

Autumn Outfits

Today I thought I would do a fashion post as I have noticed autumn clothing is slowly creeping into stores. So I decided to look on some high street store websites and put together some collages of clothing I would choose as autumn outfits.

New Look

Navy check boyfriend blazer

Red long sleeve layered shirt

Dark blue super skinny jeans

Tan block heel boots

Topshop

Textured wool jacket

Chunky rib jumper

Black ankle leggings

Cut out boots

Ribbon trimmed black ankle socks

ASOS

Dark grey knitted dress with zip back fastening

Rib sleeve biker jacket

60 denier black tights

Leather lace up ankle boots

(click on all items to look up on the store's website)

Mac Lipstick Review and Mac lipsticks I want next

About 4 months ago now my friend persuaded me to buy a Mac lipstick. She kept going on about how good they were and how she had an ever growing collection of them. So I decided to go on the Debenhams website and have a look. After looking at all the colours and searching swatches I decided to buy the shade called Brave which is a satin finish lipstick.

I would describe Brave as a muted medium pink probably my lips but better colour kind of shade. I was really happy with it as I wanted an everyday colour and this was perfect.

Although at first I though £15 for a lipstick was a bit expensive I now think that is definitely worth the money as it is quite long lasting and they come in so many different colours. I now really want to try the colours Kinda Sexy which is a pinky-rose nude colour, Vegas Volt which is a pretty coral colour and Rebel which is a deep plum berry colour. One of these will definitely be my next treat!

(L-R Kinda Sexy, Vegas Volt, Rebel)
(Above photo is not mine but the rest are)

Mac lipsticks can be bought at Debenhams or the Mac website.

Bourjois 1 Seconde Volume Mascara Review

I got this mascara a few months ago when I saw loads of reviews saying how good it was. At the time I actually needed a new mascara so I though I would try it out and when I went to Boots it was on offer. It retails for £9.99 but I got it for £7.99 which was great.

I really love the packaging of this mascara. It is mirrored packaging with an really pretty coral coloured writing and wand handle. I like it as the normal one comes in coral and the waterproof comes in a teal colour so it easy to tell them apart and avoid picking the wrong one. The wand of the mascara is a really nice and I really like the thickness. On the Boots website it says 'its unique brush has spherical bristles to wrap every lash and straight bristles to create clump free definition'. I would definitely agree with this statement, it probably the best mascara I have ever bought!

 The picture above shows before (left) and after (right) applying the mascara. It really does give you voluminous lashes and does a really good job of separating them.

It gives you long lashes and its the first mascara I have had for nearly 3 months and it hasn't dried up yet so its really worth spending a little bit more. I have already recommended this to friends and family.

It can be bought here at Boots (click here) or in Superdrug (click here)

What mascara would you recommend I try next? 

Seven Sins Of Beauty Tag

I saw this tag on the blog Xolucy.blogspot.com. I like doing tags and I thought this looked like a good one to do...

1.GREED - What is your most inexpensive beauty product? What is your most expensive beauty product?
My most inexpensive is MUA lipsticks at just £1 and my most expensive is my Naked 3 palette at £37.

2. WRATH - What beauty product do you have a love/hate relationship with?
It would probably have to be false eyelashes. I will never understand how some people wear them everyday as I love wearing them but hate putting them on.

3. GLUTTONY -  What are your most delicious beauty products?
The Body Shop's blueberry lip butter smells amazing!

4. SLOTH - What beauty product do you neglect dues to laziness?
Highlighter and gel eyeliner, I would love to wear both everyday but sometimes I can't be bothered to put it on.

5. PRIDE -  What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

I would probably have to say concealer as I will never go out of the house without at least concealer on. The one I love to use is Maybelline Cover stick in Nude 02.

6. LUST - What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

I really don't understand what this has to do with beauty but I would say he has to be able to make me laugh, kind and caring.

7. ENVY - What items would you most like to receive as a gift?  

I would love to receive the new Marc Jacobs perfume Daisy Dream or anything from my this months wish list post (click here).

And like Lucy I now nominate everyone who wants to, to do this tag.

My Travel Make up Bag

At the weekend I went on the train to see one of my university friends and so today I thought I would share what I took in my make up even though it wasn't for long but for me packing minimal make up is a challenge.

So I took...
A small mirror - present
Small pug make up bag - £1.99 H&M

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - £9.99
Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush - comes in a set for £21.99
Bourjois 1 Seconde Volume Mascara - £9.99
Maybelline Cover stick Nude 02 - £3.99
Sample size of Supergoop! CC Cream in Light Medium - Full sized £
Rimmel Lasting Finish Mono Blush - £3.99
Make Up Revolution single eyeshadow in Promised Land  - £1
Original Vaseline - £1.99
Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink punch - £2.99
Maybelline Matte Maker powder - £3.99

All these products are available from Boots or Superdrug 

My Statement Necklace Collection

I love a nice statement necklace as I'm sure many people do so today I thought I would share my collection as I have quite a few...

Present but from H&M

£5.99 from H&M

£4.00 from Matalan

About £2 from a charity shop

£6.99 from New Look  - Bought last year for my 18th birthday night out

£8 from Accessorize

Present but from H&M

£3 from Primark

(Some of these necklaces were bought a while ago so might no longer be available)

What I got in my August Birchbox

In this months Birchbox I recieved more skincare and hair care products than anything else. I was very impressed with what I got but I hate the fact I can see what else I could have got on the website as I saw a really pretty eyeshadow but to be honest I have far too many anyway so I didn't really need it. I have already tried all of the products once which is probably not enough times to form an opinion but first impressions I think they are all very good products. So this is what I got...

 

Number 4 Super Comb Prep and Protect 

Chella Highlighter Pencil

Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator Exfoliating Cleanser

Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream

The Proposal By Tasmina Perry Book Sample

Overall I am very happy with my box and like that there is a variety of things and the book sample is a great idea. My favourite so far after only one use is probably the Vasanti Exfoliating Cleanser as its really gentle and it left my skin feeling really smooth and it looked so much better too. This is only my second month of the Birchbox and I already want to say I wish I had started getting it before now!

To find out more and to subscribe to Birchbox click here

10 Things I have learnt about myself this year

Today's post is very different to any of my others as my blog is mainly about beauty and fashion but this was inspired by a post I saw called '16 things I learnt while I was 16'. I thought I would do 10 things I have learnt about myself this year as in this past year I have started another part of my life by going to university and living away from home. There has also been other events in my life that have made me realise a lot and I just thought I would share them...

1. I have missed home a lot more than I thought I would - Although I haven't been that far away from home and could come home any weekend I wanted for the first month I didn't come home at all which was so hard especially the first week.

2. Everything can only get better - For anyone reading this and is thinking about going to uni don't be scared of it, not going to lie my experience of my first year was difficult at first but it got better and in the last few months I was enjoying it a lot more because I had got used to everything.

3. That been an organised person helps - I am a very organised person and this has helped me a lot during the uni year as I was constantly writing lists of the things I needed to do to make sure I had it all  done.

4. I now know who my real friends are - Been away from home makes you realise who your friends actually are. I would probably say I have three close friends who have all been there when I needed them even if we weren't living in the same place (or even the same country at one point) but I have come to realise that your best friends are the ones that even if you are apart nothing changes and it still feels like you haven't been away.

  

5. To not be afraid to take chances - After some of things I have had to make a decision about there has been another realisation I have had and it is that sometimes it better to take a chance than to just wonder what would have happened. 

6. Everything happens for a reason - I now know things happen and its not the end of the world better things will come and you will forgot and move on.

7. I am never alone - While at uni sometimes I felt lonely but I know I'm never alone and there is always someone to talk to which always helps.

8. That I should not tolerate been messed about by people - This year certain people have really  made me feel crap for months but from talking to family and friends I need to learn not to put up with it, stop been taken for granted, stop been too nice and realise I deserve better.

9. That I can be a confident person - I really feel this past year I have become more confident most of it is probably to do with living on my own and I have to do more things for myself. This is a really good thing for me because I can be very quiet around people.

10. That I am good at what I do - Before uni I always used to say my work was never good enough even though I had my friends and parents telling me I was wrong. Since studying for my degree and receiving a 2.1 overall for the first year it has made me believe in myself more and not been big headed but my work must be good enough if I have managed to pass the first year as I am sure not everyone will.

Mini Haul

So this is just a quick post about some little bits I bought while out in York today with my friends. This is what I bought...

Real Techniques Blush brush - £9.99

Real Techniques Miracle complexion sponge - £5.99

(Real Techniques are on buy 1 get 1 half price In Boots)

Pug make up bag  - £1.99 H&M

Lipstick fabric - £5 for 1m from the market

I really excited to try my Real Techniques Miracle complexion sponge as I have heard good things about them and I just couldn't resist the pug make up bag as I am obsessed with pugs and already own a cushion, purse, nail file, soft toy and nail transfers. Also in case you were wondering I am planing to make myself a bag with it.

Nails of the week

This weeks nails were inspired by yet another You Tube video (click here). It is very similar to a previous nail art post I did a few months ago (click here) but I really love the pastels shades and the sparkly pink accent nail.

I did the the galaxy print nails by sponging on a pastel pink, purple and blue to create a cloud effect. On the heart nail I cut a heart from sellotape to mask of the nail and I painted over it in a white so when I took the mask of it left a galaxy print heart. For the sparkly nail I used a shimmery pink and then a pink and sliver glitter nail varnish over the top. I also added a bit of glitter nail varnish to the galaxy print ones. 

My Beauty Wish List: 1

As someone who is obsessed with make up and I like reading blogs everyday I have quite a long list of products I want to try and today I thought I would share some of them...

1. Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Perfume £50 - I wanted this ever since I knew Marc Jacobs was bringing out a new perfume. I love all of his fragrances and currently own Dot and Daisy Sunshine.

2. The Balm Mary Lou Manizer £16 - I think I first came across The Balm brand on a You Tube video and since then I have seen and read some great reviews on this highlighter.

3. Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner £18.50 - I have heard this product is something you either love or hate but I got a sample of it in Boots a few months ago and I really liked it (read my review here) and want the full size. This is probably my most wanted from this list and might have to be my next treat to myself.

4. Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara £13 - I have seen a few people have this on the make up tutorials I watch on You Tube and I think it look like a great product to have because I always manage to smudge mascara under my bottom lash line with a normal mascara wand so one specifically made for botton lashes is a good idea.

5. Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eye shadow in the shade 05 Rosy Brown £6.90 - A friend first told me about these and since then I have seen so many reviews and they all told me how good they were so now I really want to try them for myself as I love eye shadow and a stick eye shadow is not something I own.

Most of these I think I will ask for them for Christmas, well if I can wait that long otherwise I might save up and buy a few!

Make up Revolution eye shadow review with swatches

These are the other products I got in my Make Up Revolution haul which I am going to review today. I got 3 of their single eye shadows and a 12 colour eye shadow palette.

 The 3 single eye shadows I got were Good life (shimmery taupe shade), Promised Land (rose gold), and Isomnia (shmmery dark purple with reddish tone). They are all very pigmented and shimmery and at £1 I can't complain. I can tell a difference between these and higher end shadows in colour and lasting power but they are still very good. The packaging is very simple and the shadows are a good size. Again they are very similar to the MUA brand.

The palette I got was the Redemption Romantic smoked that has 12 shades. It has 6 shimmery colours and 6 matte colours which is really good as it means you don't need any other shadows to create an eye shadow look. I really like the colours and I will definitely try them all as they are the kind of colours I wear. The palette is much bigger than I thought and I really like the packaging as it quite sturdy and doesn't look too cheap. 

On the left there are the shimmery shades from the palette, in the middle there are the matte shades from the palette and on the right there are the single shadow shades. (I know these aren't the best swatches but it just gives you an idea) 

Also I have found that the matte brown shade in the palette makes the perfect eyebrow shade for me. The eyebrow on the left is the one I put some of the shadow through and I really like the difference it makes compared to the other one which has no shadow. I don't usually bother putting anything on my eyebrows but I like how much more defined they look.

Overall I would recommend them if you want to try different colours as there are so many to choose from and I got quite excited at the weekend as I spotted the range in the Superdrug store! Are they in a store near you yet? because if they are go and grab some, what excuse have you got they are so cheap and decent quality! 

Anyway hope you liked my Make up Revolution reviews  (click here to read my lipstick review)

The Liebster Tag

So I was nominated by Mia to do the Liebster tag. I had no idea what it was until I read her blog post about but I actually think its a really good thing to do to help people in the blogging world get more followers if you are just starting your blog. So thank you Mia for the nomination!

Here are the rules:

You must answer all the questions you are given 

Must link back to the person that nominated you 

Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers

Cannot nominate the person who nominated you

Must inform nominees of your nomination

Provide nominees with a link to your post for more info

Here are the questions I was asked and my answers:

1. When did you start your blog?
I started my blog June 2014.

2. What is your favorite fragrance?
My favourite is Marc Jacobs Daisy Sunshine.

3. What is your favourite make up brand?
Maybelline, I really like their foundations and mascaras.

4. Your favorite film?
Hairspray.

5. Do you prefer Summer or Winter?
I prefer Summer even if the weather in England isn't always great.

6. Do you prefer pastels or brights for your nails?
I prefer brights especially red and pink.

7. Do you have any piercings?
Yes, I have two sets of lobe piercings and a helix piercing in my left ear.

8. What is your favourite high street fashion shop?
I love Topshop but I can't really afford clothes from there so I would have to say New Look.

9. If you could sum yourself up in 3 words, what would they be?
Creative, helpful and kind.

10. Do you prefer a red, nude or pink lip?
I really love red.

11. What's your favourite way to remove your make up?
I just use make up wipes for sensitive skin and then I cleanse to make sure I have got rid of it all.

I nominate Victoria, Yazmin, Marley, Emma, Sophie, Dulcie, Christie, Claire, Ella, Rebecca and Ellen

Here are my questions to all my nominees:

1. How many blog posts do you write a week?

2. What is your favourite lipstick? 

3. Place you dream of going to one day? 

4. An interesting fact about yourself?

5. What are you most proud of in your life?

6. What is your favourite book?

7. What is your dream job? 

8. What are your hobbies?

9. What is your favourite high end make up brand?

10. Do you own any Mac lipstick, if so which ones?

11. What is your favourite nail varnish brand?

Nails of the week

This weeks nails are using the nail varnish I got in my July Birchbox. It is by the brand Soigne. I had heard of it before I got it but never knew how good it was. Its probably one of the best nail varnishes I own and I own around 70! (Yes I know thats a bit too many but I have an obsession and can't stop buying them and receiving them as gifts.) The colour is a true red colour and the is called Pomegranate. It is so smooth to apply and the brush is a really good size to cover the nail easily. I have had it on for about 3 days now and only had to touch up two nails yesterday because I caught them but you can't even tell.

The nail varnish retails for £11 which is quite pricey but if it was a treat I would definitely get another colour as they come in some really pretty colours and at the moment are sold exclusively on the Birchbox website.(click here)

(the top photo was edited in the app Photo Fy if you were wondering)

Make Up Revolution Lipstick review

I did a post about my Make up revolution haul a few days but I thought I would do a bit more in depth review of the products. The first product is a lipstick in the shade Encore. It is pale shimmery pink colour. Its actually is a lot darker than I thought it was going to be than when I looked at it online but I still really like it.

                           

Like everyone keeps saying the packaging is alot like the MUA range in Superdrug and the lipstick consistency is very similar. It is really smooth to apply and lasts a few hours but not as many as the MUA ones which I think are alot better but I still can't complain as Make up revoultion lipstciks are only £1 like MUA's and they come in so many more colours than the MUA ones.

                                     

Overall I really like this lipstick for an everyday look and looks really nice with really natural make up and a bit of eye liner, its not bad at all and I really recommend having a look on there website.

Make up Revolution link

Superdrug link